The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-03

more prosperous; or enjoyed more en-
couraging outlook for the future, or
more deserving OF the loyalty and pat
ronage of our church. The roll of stu
dents, however, could be more than
doubled, and just as satisfactory work
accomplished as at present. 1t is a
question whether our church in the West
appreciates it's possession in having this
institution, or is doing it's whole duty, in
the matter of furnishing students to q
college in which all of us may feel a
worthy sense of pride. The endowment
of the university in securities in possess
sion of the board of trustees is sufficient
for all expenses as conducted at the pres
emit time. But
New Want
has been developed in the last few years
which seems to be imperative in it's de-
mand. It refuses to be silent, and is
making itself felt more and more. The
urgent need of school in the West,
where our young men and women, look
ing toward the ministry, could be edu-
Gated for the work, gave rise to an eff
fort toward establishing
Divinity Department in the College.
It was not without some misgiving
that in September, 1881, this department
was established; and in the six years of
it's existence the work performed has fully
justified its establishment. Six young
men have been graduated, each OF whom
are in settled pastorates and accomplish
ing great good for our church. One
young lady has been graduated. and has
settled passionate, beside others. who
are regularly engaged in preaching but
who dill not remain the required four
yea 8. Two students now in the Divinity
department, one OF whom "a LADY, is
preaching alternate Sundays for two of
our churches, the Marseilles church be-
ing one of them. The other, young man
of considerable promise, is preaching
regularly half of the time. The work
in this department has been perform
ed for these six years by professors
whose time is employed in the col
lege proper. All honor to President
White and his generous professors for
taking this added burden. 1t is Sc
rious question whether these young men
and women who have in this way been
given to our church as pastors and
he in,
their present capacity, had they been
obliged to migrate to the Eastern schools
for the necessary preparation. The work
accomplished having justified the estab-
lishment of this department of Lombard
University. What now? The work has
become too burdensome on the present
faculty, and it is felt by PRESIDENT
White and his associates that theologi-
cal professorship is now necessity. The
demand seems to be imperative. 1t is
not a question as to whether we can have
such professorship, but can we any
longer do without it, in justice to our
church? President White informed me
that class of twenty theological stu
dents could be had at once were the col
lege in a condition to receive them
What will the Universalist church of the
West do toward answering this new de-
mand? Surely such an appeal will not
be allowed to pass uuheeded, neither will
you allow your already hard worked
professors to carry this added burden
much longer. am confident that our
church will see the way to the endow-
ment of theological professorship, at
Lombard University, and that I trust
before the beginning of another college
year. To secure twenty or twenty-five
thousand dollars for the endowment of
such a professorship, cannot be consid-
cred as lying in the domain of the impos-
sible. It must be had, and what we
must have we shall find way unto.
GEORGE B. STOCKING.
Visitor to Lombard University for the
Illinois State Convention of Universal
lists.
Peoria, H., November 20, 1887.